The DD(X) ship and life cycle support process design objectives are driven by three key objectives: high availability with reduced annual support costs and a manning compliment lower than the predecessor class of ships. To achieve these objectives requires that the shipboard systems and their relationship to alternate maintenance strategies be analyzed using a structured modeling approach to determine: 1) their failure modes, 2) monitoring methods to automatically recognize the failures, 3) the impact of failures on mission readiness, 4) alternate operational scenarios, and 5) maintenance requirements. The analysis must lead to an optimum strategy within constraints, and be captured in a form that allows implementation within the shipboard and shore-side environment. This will allow the use of the design model within the run-time decision support system, that integrates condition monitoring systems, system predictive model simulator, operator displays for status and recommendations, mission readiness assessment models, and maintenance and logistics systems that integrate with the shore-based components. To support these objectives, The DEI Group proposes to design and develop the prototype for an integrated systems framework for use in designing an optimal life cycle maintenance strategy that will also support shipboard deployment within the planned DD(X) Mission Readiness Support System
